Following main ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP)’s overwhelming win in Saturday’s parliamentary elections, former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom has reiterated support for “those who work for the good of the nation.”
Gayoom congratulated President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, via twitter, on his party’s win in the election, and noted that the “significant victory” will allow him to deliver his election pledges.
During the campaign trail, the president had appealed to the public to vote for MDP, stressing its importance to deliver his presidential pledges. He highlighted that out of the 23 bills forwarded to parliament since assuming office in November, only eight had been passed.
In his tweet, the former President also noted that his Maumoon Reform Movement- which is in the works to be registered as an official party as Maldives Reform Movement (MRM)- “will always stand with the people and support those who work for the good of the nation.”
MRM is part of the ruling coalition, along with Jumhooree Party and Adhaalath Party.
In a separate tweet, Gayoom thanked MRM’s candidates- who ran independently in the elections- and their campaign teams for the commitment and hard work “in a very difficult situation.”
While 20 candidates had run independently with MRM’s support, only one won Saturday’s race; Nilandhoo constituency candidate, Abdul Muhsin Hameed. Gayoom’s son, Ahmed Faris Maumoon lost his bid for the North-Mahchangolhu seat in capital Malé, while MRM’s senior official Aminath Nadhira lost the Galolhu-South constituency seat.
Both Faris and Nadira took to twitter immediately, to congratulate those that won the seats; MDP’s Mohamed Rasheed and Mickail Naseem, for North-Mahchangolhu seat and Galolhu-South constituency, respectively.
Gayoom also thanked MRM’s supporters for their “priceless votes.”
Interim results of Saturday’s parliamentary election shows MDP taking majority with over 60 seats. The party won only 26 seats in the 2014 parliamentary election.